Take a closer look at the AAC men's basketball teams

East Hartford native Cane Broome is among the players Cincinnati will be relying upon as it tries to defend its AAC crown. (Brad Horrigan / Hartford Courant)

Here is a look at the American Athletic Conference men’s basketball teams, in predicted order of finish:

Cincinnati

Coach: Mick Cronin

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Last year: 31-5. AAC regular season and tournament champions. NCAA second round.

Plays UConn: At Cincinnati Jan 12, in Hartford Feb. 24.

The skinny: Yes, the Bearcats have lost a lot of talent— namely Gary Clark, Kyle Washington and Jacob Evans — but Cronin, characteristically, has guys ready to step in after a year or two in development, including East Harford’s Cane Broome at guard, Jarron Cumberland, Tre Scott and Nysier Brooks.

Need to know: Cincinnati has reached the NCAA Tournament eight years in a row.

Central Florida

Coach: Johnny Dawkins

Last year: 19-12

Plays UConn: Jan. 5 in Hartford, Jan. 31 in Orlando.

The skinny: The coaches picked UCF first, believing this is the year a fascinating roster puts it together and the program Rick Pitino used to call a “sleeping giant” awakens. Maybe. The Knights have the preseason player of the year in guard B.J. Taylor and the 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall upfront, a good place to start.

Need to know: Aubrey Dawkins, the son of the coach, is back after sitting out a season, and missing another due to injury.

Houston

Coach: Kelvin Sampson

Last year: 27-8: NCAA second round.

Plays UConn: Feb. 14 at XL Center.

The skinny: Rob Gray Jr., the top player, is gone, but Sampson has replenished nicely, and will have strong guard play with seniors Galen Robinson Jr. and Corey Davis Jr., and AAC preseason freshman of the year Nate Hinton.

Need to know: Sampson is 83-48 at Houston, making good on a promise to rejuvenate the program as it moves into a new arena.

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SMU

Coach: Tim Jankovich

Last year: 17-16

Plays UConn: Jan. 10 at Gampel, Feb. 21 in Dallas.

The skinny: Last season was marred by injuries, and the Mustangs’ best player, Shake Milton, is gone. But in Jarrey Foster and transfer Jahmal McMurray they have two of the best players in the league to continue a culture of winning.

Need to know: SMU is in the final year of scholarship reduction penalties imposed by the NCAA.

UConn

The skinny: New coach Dan Hurley inherited a roster that struggled, and often appeared to go through the motions last season under Kevin Ollie. He is set on restoring fire and toughness, and having Alterique Gilbert healthy and paired with Jalen Adams, rather than Adams having to carry the team constantly, could make a big difference.

Need to know: Huskies were out-rebounded (minus-2.4) throughout last season.

Wichita State

Coach: Gregg Marshall

Last year: 25-8. NCAA Tournament first round.

Plays UConn: Jan. 26 at Gampel, Feb. 24 at Wichita.

The skinny: Though the loss of all five starters suggests this will be a down year for the Shockers, it’s hard to imagine it being too far down, given the program’s history. Senior Markis McDuffie will have a lot on his shoulders, but young players tend to develop quickly under Marshall.

Need to know: Marshall, at Media Day, said he has been looking to recruit players more athletically suited for the AAC, after years in the MVC.

Memphis

Coach: Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway

Last season: 21-13

Plays UConn: Feb. 10 at Memphis.

The skinny: Most schools would have been delighted with Tubby Smith’s two years of work at Memphis, but expectations there are high, and Hardaway, hometown hero and NBA star, is called upon to re-energize the fan base. Hardaway got big-time recruits, Alex Lomax, Tyler Harris, Antwann Jones, Tyler Wingett, and ticket sales have soared. But this is a young team, and a coach who will need time, himself, to develop.

Temple

Coach: Fran Dunphy

Last season: 17-16

Plays UConn: Feb. 6 in Philadelphia, March 7 at Gampel.

The skinny: One of the most respected coaches in the profession, Fran Dunphy is stepping down after this season, his 30th. He has senior Shizz Alston Jr. and junior Quinton Rose and a fairly experienced cast, the kind Dunphy can usually get to overachieve.

Need to know: The Owls were out-rebounded (minus-4.2) last season.

Tulsa

Coach: Frank Haith

Last season: 19-12

Plays UConn: Jan. 16 at Tulsa.

The skinny: Haith’s teams usually out-perform their preseason rankings. Now they have to replace a lot of scoring lost in Junior Etou and Corey Henderson. Senior Sterling Taplin is a steady floor general and senior forward DaQuan Jefferies is versatile, and young players must fall into place around them.

Need to know: Since joining the AAC (2014), Tulsa has won 46 games, more than any team except Cincinnati (57) and SMU (51).

Tulane

Coach: Mike Dunleavy Sr.

Last season: 14-17

Plays UConn: Jan. 19 at Gampel.

The skinny: It looked like the Green Wave was making progress in Year 2 under Dunleavy, the long-time NBA player, coach and executive, but they faded late. They did send two players to the NBA, Melvin Frazier and Cameron Reynolds, who provided much of the offense last season. Experienced guard play from Jordan Cornish and Ray Ona Embo will help Dunleavy develop his big men.

East Carolina

Coach: Joe Dooley

Last year: 10-20

Plays UConn: Feb. 3 in Hartford, March 10 at Greenville, N.C.

The skinny: Dooley returns to ECU, where he coached in the 1990s, after winning five conference titles at Florida Gulf Coast. It’ll take time to build the Pirates, but he can build his first team around Shawn Williams (12.4 ppg), the AAC’s rookie of the year, and senior point guard Isaac Fleming.

Need to know: Raphael Chillous, associate head coach at UConn last season, is now in that role at ECU.

South Florida

Coach: Brian Gregory

Last year: 10-22

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Plays UConn: Jan. 2 in Tampa, March 3 at Gampel.

The skinny: The Bulls always seem mired in turmoil, and stuck at the bottom of whatever league they are in. Gregory brings some stability, and began the building process with culture-building fifth-year transfers last season. Now it’s up to sophomore David Collins, a fine shooter, to lead a mix of young players and transfers to get USF out of its rut.

Need to know: Point guard LaQuincy Rideau, transfer from Gardner-Webb, is eligible and figures to start.